The Smashing Pumpkins's Bullet with Butterfly Wings (Remastered 2012) is in the key of A# Major, moving at 122 BPM. The Camelot code 6B tells you which neighbouring keys will sound smooth alongside it. Here's everything you need: scale, chords, raga, and related songs.
Bullet with Butterfly Wings by The Smashing Pumpkins is a high-energy, alternative rock track with a driving tempo of 122 BPM. The song's key of Bb major, often used in rock music, suits its genre perfectly, evoking feelings of tension and release. The key's bright, dynamic quality complements the song's powerful guitar riffs and soaring vocals, creating a sense of emotional intensity.
Scale & Notes of A# Major
The A# Major scale is built from these seven notes:
A#CDD#FGA
Its relative key is G Minor (same notes), and its parallel key is A# Minor. If you're transposing or looking for a vocal-comfortable key, those are the natural neighbours.
Chords in A# Major
The seven diatonic triads in this key — the chord palette most of the song will draw from:
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|
| I | A# | Major |
| ii | Cm | Minor |
| iii | Dm | Minor |
| IV | D# | Major |
| V | F | Major |
| vi | Gm | Minor |
| vii° | Adim | Diminished |
Indian Classical: the Kafi thaat
In Hindustani classical terms, A# Major maps to the Kafi thaat (Western mode: Dorian). Dorian mode — minor scale with a natural 6th. Common in jazz and folk music (Santana, 'So What' by Miles Davis). In Indian music it gives a gentle, romantic character. Traditional listening time: Afternoon to midnight.
If you want to sing or practise in this key, set your tonic (Sa) to A#. Ragas built on this thaat:
- Kafi — Pure Dorian — ♭3 and ♭7, natural 2nd and 6th. Romantic, folk-like, seasonal (Holi).
- Pilu — Dorian with chromatic passing notes — very flexible. Light classical, semi-classical (Any time).
- Bhimpalasi — Dorian pentatonic (omits 2nd & 6th). Meditative, longing (Afternoon).
- Bageshri — Dorian with omitted 5th in ascent — intimate, introspective. Romantic, feminine (Late night).
- Patdeep — Dorian with both ♮3 and ♭3 in descent. Tender, seasonal (Afternoon).
Set Tanpura to A# →Practise in this key →Find another song's key →
Harmonic mixing (for DJs)
Bullet with Butterfly Wings (Remastered 2012) sits at Camelot 6B. For a smooth harmonic transition, mix it with tracks in 5B, 6A, 7B — adjacent keys on the Camelot wheel that share most of their notes.